Thursday February 5th, 2015
California State University, East Bay
News, Arts & Culture for the East Bay
Will vaping be banned on BART? See page 10
Pioneer softball team puts Penguins on ice By Louis LaVenture Sports and Campus Editor
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he Cal State East Bay women’s softball team dominated Dominican University on Sunday at Pioneer Softball Field and won both games 9-1, 6-5. CSUEB is now 2-0 overall and left the Penguins 0-2 early in the season. The Pioneers dominated the first game despite a rough start. Senior pitcher Emily Perlich gave up a double to Dominican first baseman Katelyn Harden who knocked in shortstop Kayla Rodriguez in the top of the first inning that gave the Penguins a quick 1-0 lead early in the game. However, CSUEB bounced back in the bottom half of the first inning and scored four runs on three hits to take back the lead 4-1. Sophomore infielder Marisa Lerma connected on a pitch in the first inning and drove it over the left field wall driving in senior Jaynie MacDonald. Perlich then dominated the Dominican hitters over the next few innings and only allowed one hit and one run en route to her first victory of the year. Junior pitcher Tatiana Beilstein picked up the save for the Pioneers and allowed just one hit in one inning on the mound. “She was tough on the mound today,” Dominican Head Coach Sarah Byrne said. “We have to score to win and I felt like we did a lot better at that in the second game.” The Pioneers offense was quiet until the fourth inning when they exploded for four more runs that became two home runs.
See Softball, Page 11
TAM DUONG JR./THE PIONEER Sophomore Ali Cerminara celebrates with her teammates after scoring a home run Saturday at Pioneer Softball Field.
CSUEB talent fills the house By Louis LaVenture Sports and Campus Editor
By Louis LaVenture Sports and Campus Editor
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ocal talent was on full display Tuesday night at the California State University, East Bay Theater as part of the 2015 homecoming week festivities. The Associated Students, Inc. of CSUEB collaborated with MKTG KINGS, “a creative agency that specializes in branding,” to put on their version of the iconic “Showtime at the Apollo,” television show. Unlike the original show, performers were not booed off stage but instead given a five-minute time limit. The winner was chosen by the loudest audience applause at the end of all the performances. Senior communications major Da’Ryn Merriwether won the event after she sang “Fool For You” by Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona. The crowd selected Michael C., better known as Braxxy, as the second place winner for an original rap, and third place was awarded to Nado Tovar who sang and played guitar to his version of “Barbie Girl” by Aqua. R&B singer Goapele took the University Theater stage before the voting began in front of a near capacity crowd. Goapele opened her set with the 2009 hit “Milk and Honey” and the entire crowd rose to its feet. The Golden State Warriors official DJ, DJ DSHARP, provided the music for the singer who performed some of her well-known songs along with some from her new album “Strong As Glass”. Goapele got the crowd excited with her last song “Closer” before the voting for the winner of the show began. There was a wide variety of performers that included comedians, singers, rappers, and dancers. One of the biggest crowd re-
See Apollo, Page 3
The Jacka killed in Oakland
KRIS STEWART/THE PIONEER Bay Area R &B singer, Goapele, performs at Showtime at the Apollo Tuesday night.
Thirty-seven-year-old rapper Dominic Newton, better known as The Jacka, was shot in East Oakland near MacArthur Boulevard and 94th Avenue around 8:15 p.m. on Monday night. He was pronounced dead at Highland Hospital later that night. Oakland Police officials said Jacka was with friends in and around a van in the area when a passing vehicle opened fire on the group hitting Newton in the head. No suspects have been named and the police department has helped put a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest. “He was just outside having fun with music like always,” neighbor Reggie Grant said. “He did so much good for the whole Bay.” His music was defined as “gangster rap” which portrayed a rough upbringing that shaped his life. His mother gave birth to him when she was just 14 and his father served a lengthy prison sentence during his childhood. In his 2005 track “Barney” on the album “The Jack Artist” he provided a glimpse into his troubled youth, “How could I change I don’t know s---/War on the streets niggas trippin’ over old s---/F--- it make the coke flip/I’m a drug dealer but my father is a cold pimp.” The Jacka started his music career in 1999-2000 just before he was arrested for grand theft and armed robbery. He served one year in California Department of Corrections facilities after he was convicted of
See The Jacka, Page 8